Mark, Ill tell you a story from my past. I was living in an American city in the desert Southwest. I had organised an introductory class at a Parish Church for engaged couples to explain the teachings against Contraception and an introduction to Natural Family Planning, The receptionist and Parish Priest seemed very anti my presence there and there was a flagrantly Homosexual priest on staff as well A nun who lived onsite had fled back to her homestate after having a difficult time there. But I digress. When I arrived to give my talk to the class of engaged couples preparing for marriage, the Parish building was deserted. I had a key but there was no one there. It was scary being in the Parish Centre with no one around and of course I could not understand why it seemed the people preparing for marriage had not shown up. It felt unsafe to me, being there alone, though not completely alone, as if some malevolent presence was there, lurking, and I left, heart pounding - you could say I got the hell outa Dodge.. As I was driving home, the city streets were very quiet. Suddenly I saw a small red car driving towards me on the otherwise empty boulevard. The driver was a dark swarthy man, bearded. ( When I say dark , I mean olive skinned with black hair.) He was driving agressively towards me. As we approached each other, he literally roared at me and fire came out of his mouth. Yes, fire. Literal flames. Out of his mouth. He looked at me with rage, passed me, and left me quite shocked. I drove home, pondering this encounter with pure evil. The next time I was at that Parish, the receptionist made some excuse about why the event had not been publicised, and told me that something had gone missing from the Parish Priests office - and she insinuated I could have stolen it. It was all trumped up, of course. And a way of letting me know I was not welcome there. Talk about Spititual Warfare. But it is best to hide yourself in the holiness of the Lord and his Blessed Mother. Never imagine for one moment that you can fight the Devil or his minions alone. Just acknowlege and call on the names of Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph, and Michael the Archangel.
This is an amazing testimony Lumena. I believe every word. Sometimes evil reveals itself especially when the stakes are so high. You were literally in the lion's den. What a shame that the ruling powers of that parish conniving to drive you away. I just got done listening to Fr Calloway (posted on another thread) He speaks of these things and tells it like it is. And of course emphasizes the absolute necessity of recourse to Our Holy Mother. Some years ago when I started teaching again after being home with my children it was after school and I was at my desk quietly working and thd head of the department came in and out of nowhere began to berate me for my stance on abortion. Really venomous. I had not to my knowledge ever spoken to her about it but I made no secret of my Catholic faith. It was so strange. So frightening really to feel the hatred. I worked with her 3 more years and she never mentioned it and never did it again. Bizarre.
We had a strange experience last summer. I'd purchased a holy candle of Our Lady. En route to home, we're passing a woman slowly walking along on a sidewalk. This is a curved road. Our windows were rolled down. I was driving. Husband might have glanced in the woman's direction, I'm not sure. All of a sudden this woman HALTS ... STARES at us ... and begins yelling. Was it because of the presence of the holy candle?
Yes Terry this is the place you most certainly will encounter oul bucket heads minions..Ive actually been hissed at
I love reading about stories like this. Blessed Anne Emmerich in her Life of the Blessed Virgin relates many stories like this. Sometimes the y were greeted with joy and deep respect and some places with malevolence and spite. I think the Scripture story of they were turned away at three places on Christmas Night at Bethlehem has a little to do with this. I bough the most beautiful St Benedict's Cross a while back and got them Blessed. One day at home my Angel Guardian told me that where possible I should wear it outside my clothes rather than under. When I asked why he told me it was much more powerful when worn publically rather than hidden as we give public testimony to our Faith in Christ. i have found this to be so. You can feel it, like a torch or Light that shines around. It reminds me of the story of Galadriel the Elf Queen in Lord of the Rings who gave Frodo a shinning amulet. Sacramentals work. They really, really do. But they are tools and it helps to use them right.
The War will get much worse before it gets better. The War of Satan on the Children of Mary. 'Who is she who comes, Fair as the Moon, Bright as the Stars, Terrible as an Army in Battle Array?'
Very startling story. And not one person showed up. Even more odd. Makes you wonder what that priest, receptionist and parish are doing now.
My husband does the same. When he retired he began wearing his medals outside his clothes, a large Miraculous Medal, and a St.Benedict.
..and young mothers used to place Holy Pictures over the prams and cradles of their infants and babies....
A safety pin holding a couple of holy medals pinned to the inside fabric of the pram hood. I did it. Watching babies reacting - listening, looking, smiling - at something in front of them that you can't see is one of the wonders of motherhood. 'Playing with the Angels' the old people called it.
Dogs and cats do this too. Especially cats. Who are amazing. People in the City of Venice noticed this as soon as they were brought into Europe for the first time...and of course they were venerated in Ancient Egypt.
I have experienced something similar. Turning to prayer quickly, for protection, keeping the intros short, I find useful.
YES, I now have exorcised & blessed salt & water. I have put the salt in every inside corner of the house, each floor. Now living alone in the house, I have a much different level of calm & peace. I know I'm extra protected.
